(photo via FORM Athletics)
The MMA News had the chance to do an email interview with former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber (23-4). We ask Faber about his last fight against Jose Aldo, his next fight, and his clothing company FORM Athletics.
You are coming off a tough loss to WEC Champ Jose Aldo in your last fight. Tell us about this fight and where you felt you made your mistakes?
Urijah Faber: I would say I had a good game plan going in, but I didn’t take into account how detrimental his leg kicks would be. He was accurate with his kicks and he did a great job immobilizing me. It is something that I have been working on in my game.
You took a lot of punishment from the leg kick attacks of Aldo, how bad were your legs injured after the fight, and was the swelling as bad as some of the pictures circulating on the internet?
UF: The swelling was probably worse than the pictures on the internet. The left leg had a severe hematoma and I wasn’t fully recovered for a couple of months. There was no structural damage, but it was a very painful injury.
What is your next step in fighting; do you plan on staying in the feather weight division, or would a move down to 135 be something you have considered?
UF: I am actually in the process of dropping to 135 for the first time in my MMA career. I’m going to see how i feel for the first time at 135 and go from there. I want to keep competing and fight the fights the fans want to see.
This year you co founded FORM Athletics along with sportswear veteran Mark Miller, tell us a little bit about the company and what makes it different than other MMA apparel companies?
UF: FORM Athletics is much different then the other MMA founded brands. There have been a few brands that have crossed over, but our brand is something that represents the new era of MMA and the directiion it is going. The style is based on my input and what I like to wear. It’s clean, simple and really stylish.
How has the experience been of running a clothing company been?
UF: It’s been a great experience. Luckily I have a teammate that knows the business inside and out. Most of my contribution has been on styles and MMA knowledge. The real business side has been handled by Mark Miller who is the top guy in his field.
How much of your input goes into the design of the products?
UF: I have a general style that I am looking for and our artists provide me with a ton of options. I get to make some tweeks and get to pick what stays and goes.
When can we expect to see you back in the cage?
August 18th at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas against Takaya Mizugaki was what I was planning on, but due to injury I can’t, so I’m gonna take a minute to get fully recovered so I can be ready for my next fight. WEC 50 is still gonna be an incredible show! Believe me, I wish I could be a part of it!
Any last words for your fans or anyone you would like to thank?
UF: I’m looking forward to experiencing a new weight class and thank you to my fans for sticking behind me. I really appreciate all the love and support. Oh, and you are not cool unless you are wearing FORM Clothing…..and you pee your pants.
Form Athletics was formed by Faber and his partner Mark Miller this year. The MMA News also had the opportunity to interview Miller and we’ll have that article up later this week.
Here’s a little bit about Form Athletics.
“FORM Athletics is a celebration of the commitment and hard work that comes with being an elite athlete – the intense discipline and perseverance required. A perfect merger between performance and lifestyle, FORM Athletics apparel has perfect fit, premium quality, ease of movement, superior materials and a clean aesthetic & style, for a look that is effortless.”
